Chrysanthemum plant named Orinda

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Orinda particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; spoon daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 6 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum; and spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Orinda.

Orinda, identified as 84-Y67001, was originated from a cross made byCornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif., in 1984.

The female parent of Orinda was an unnamed seedling, identified as81-#02023. The male parent of Orinda was an unnamed seedling, identifiedas 82-H77012.

Orinda was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in November of1984, in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Orinda was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January of1985 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under formulations established and supervised by Cornelis P.VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Orinda are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Orinda has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Orinda, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Spoon daisy capitulum type.

3. White ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 6 cm at maturity when grownas a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Uniform eight week photoperiod flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height, requiring 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior toshort days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP to attain a floweredplant height of 25 to 35 cm for year-round flowerings when grown as apinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is spreading.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Orinda, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof Orinda grown as a pinched spray pot mum grown in a 10 cm pot. Sheet 2is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence ofOrinda. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper andunder sides of the leaves of Orinda at three stages of development(mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Orinda is Spears, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,620.Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certaincharacteristics of Orinda to the same characteristics of Spears.

Similar traits are ray floret color, capitulum form and type, branchingpattern, plant height and flowering response period. Orinda has asmaller diameter across face of capitulum than Spears. In addition,flower placement of Orinda is more open and attractive than that ofSpears, which often is clubby to very clubby.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The clear white ray floret color ofOrinda is not represented in the RHS Colour Chart. The color values weredetermined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum grown in a10 cm pot in Salinas, Calif. on Oct. 14, 1988.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Orinda.

Commercial.--Spoon daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spoon daisy.

Diameter across face.--Up to 6 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--White.

Color (under surface).--White.

Shape.--Base tubular. Distal portion open, flattened and spoon-like.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--5A.

Color (immature).--144B to 144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm as a pinched spray pot mum with 0 to 7 longdays after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137A to 147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF ORINDA AND SPEARS                                               Cultivar         Orinda      Spears                                           ______________________________________                                        Ray Floret Color White       White                                            Capitulum Form and Type                                                                        Flat        Flat                                                              Spoon Daisy Spoon Daisy                                      Branching Pattern                                                                              Spreading   Spreading                                        Diameter Across Face                                                                           Up to 6 cm  7 to 8 cm                                        of Capitulum                                                                  Plant Height     Medium      Medium                                           Flowering Response Period                                                                      8 Weeks     8 Weeks                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparisons Made of Plants Grown As Pinched Spray Pot Mums In Salinas,        California                                                               

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Orinda, asdescribed and illustrated.